Does Your Internet Keep Dropping? Here Is What You Need to Know!

Isn’t it frustrating when you are streaming your all-time favorite movie or playing a heated online game with your friends and all of a sudden, your internet starts dropping for whatever reason and now you are so annoyed you want to punch your laptop or throw your modem away?

Well, there is no need to do that, we all have been there at one point or another in our lives.

It is truly annoying if your internet keeps dropping frequently, especially when you want to get an important task done.

If you encounter such issues more often and there is no obvious reason, it is time to do something about the situation.

If you fail to take the right steps to fix the issue and your internet connection keeps dropping and reconnecting, it can cause your windows to run slow and even crash and ultimately result in system errors.

Let’ take a look at the most common reasons why your internet keeps dropping. This way, you will be able to identify the root cause of internet disconnection. Once you have identified the problem, follow the step-by-step guide to fix your issue.

Hopefully, by the end of the article, you will have identified the cause of your dropping internet and will have found a solution as well.

(Disclaimer: Just take note that not all of the below-mentioned solutions are guaranteed to alleviate your internet problems.)

Surging Traffic Can Slow Down the Internet

With more people going online at the same time, internet traffic explodes, which can take a toll on your video quality and download speeds.

Bear in mind that the capacity of your internet connection does not actually decrease with too much traffic, but it does slow down as high traffic levels result in delays. Most of this traffic usually comes from streaming.

Streaming movies or TV shows from video streaming platforms like Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix takes a lot of data. So, when you and your neighbors hop on the internet and stream different videos at the same time, it jams up the network in your neighborhood. This not only slows your network traffic, but also cause dropping.

If you have ever been to a concert or stadium to attend some sporting event, you might have experienced a similar effect while using your phone there. Always remember that using the network in a place crowded with people or in a concentrated area can result in lost signals and poor network connection. The same concept applies to your neighborhood.

How to Fix the Issue?

Do you think heavy internet traffic is making your internet drop? Well before you jump on to conclusions, use a speed test tool to test your internet speed. Make sure you run the speed test multiple times just to be on the safe side. Don’t forget to take note of how your internet performs at various times of the day.

If you get less speeds only during busier times of the day, then it would be a good idea to go online late at night or early in the morning when fewer people use the internet.

If you find out that internet speeds you are continuously not getting the speeds that you are paying for, it might be time to reach out to your internet service provider.

If you are experiencing more than occasional heavy slowing on your home internet connection, there is a good chance that you do not have enough internet speed for your household.  If this is the case, consider upgrading to a faster internet plan.

Damage to the Network Infrastructure

Have you ever been stuck at home on a rainy or stormy day, trying to hop on the internet with no success? Or does your internet connection start to drop off whenever any extreme weather condition such as storm, a sudden gush of wind or rain occurs? If yes, then severe weather plays a vital role in your ability to play online games or simply browse through the internet.

But, can rain, snow, and wind really affect the speed of your internet? Well, at times, they do when the cable wiring connecting your cable internet is damaged by severe weather conditions. This could result in a lost connection, or a much slower experience than normal or irregular service.

In some cases, construction can also damage the network infrastructure that could lead to poor internet performance.

How to Fix the Issue?

If you are experiencing an unstable Internet connection due to extreme weather conditions, then consider reaching out to your neighbors to see if they are also facing the same issue.

If you and your neighbors have the same internet provider and their connection is also down, make sure you contact the customer support in order to report the outage instantly. Getting in touch with your ISP is a wise decision to ensure the problem is not on their end.

Your Internet service provider (ISP) may be able to help you in this regard. The technical support of your internet provider can run system checks and line checks to determine if there are any issues from their end due to the weather condition. They may also give you some helpful suggestions for fixing the connection.

Modem and Router Performance

If you keep experiencing slow internet speed even if you are paying for high-speed internet, and there is no issue at the provider’s end as well, then chances are, there’s something wrong with the equipment you are using.

Maybe you have a faulty modem and router or there is a possibility that you are using outdated devices. At times, small bugs can build up and take up precious memory, ultimately resulting in issues like poor performance.

How to Fix the Issue?

If your device is far from the router/modem, it can have a negative impact on the performance of your device. The distance between your device and the router/modem could be the cause of dropping the internet.

In this case, it is ideal to relocate your router/modem. When you take time to move your router/modem closer to your devices, you may likely experience better internet speeds.

If that doesn’t work either, then you should consider rebooting your modem and router. This is a great way to clear reset its processes and clear out its memory. If this helps in improving your connection, then you just need to make sure that you reboot your modem and router more often.

If rebooting the device doesn’t not help either, then it’s time to update or replace. Check out if there are any providers in your area offering great deals on modem and router. Opting for the right device makes sure that you enjoy the internet the way it is meant to be.

In case, you’re still not getting the speed you should be getting, there could be a problem with your ISP. So, it’s better to reach out to your ISP and report the problem as soon as possible. The right internet connection ensures your peace of mind.

Having Too Many Devices Connected on the Same Network

You may already have realized that when you connect a number of devices like laptops, desktops, and other handheld devices on the same network, it becomes a whole lot challenging to surf the web or stream your favorite videos on YouTube. Not only does it affect the quality of the video but it affects the download and upload speeds of each device connected to the network as well.

When too many computers and devices struggle to access the web at the same time, it is likely to slow down the functionality of the shared internet connection. So, keep in mind If you have a large household that has too many devices connected to the network, then it will slow down your internet connection abruptly—and maybe even cause it to drop.

How to Fix the Issue?

So what to do if too many devices are connected to share the internet connection simultaneously? Or how to alleviate issues like internet slowdown or buffering?’

Well, there is an easy way to do that.

All you have to do is take note of all desktop computers, laptops, and any handheld devices in your home that connects automatically to the internet. Then turn off the Wi-Fi of any devices that you don’t use more often.

If your connection stops slowing down, then it would be ideal to keep a check on devices that connect automatically to your home internet network.

If it doesn’t help, then you probably need to upgrade your internet plan or switch internet service providers.

 

Ensure your peace of mind

There is no denying the fact the determining the exact cause of your internet connection issue may take some time. However, once you succeed in finding the problem, you will no longer have to deal with slow internet repeatedly.

If you are unable to identify the problem, we would highly recommend you contact the customer support of your internet provider. The last thing you want is to make your internet issue worse than it originally was.

FAQs

Why does my Internet connection keep dropping?

This is most likely due to the placement of your internet router.

What is the best place to place my internet router at?

Preferably at a high place, and a place that isn’t barricaded by books or blocked by a wall.

How do I make sure if heavy traffic is affecting my internet speed?

The simplest way to know this is by using a speed test tool to test the internet speed.

What to do if my internet speed keeps dropping despite using all methods to fix it?

You should contact your internet service provider to take a look at your internet speed.